topic Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores in Community Chat

Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

straykatz — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:27:18 GMT

Target didn't last long in Canada.....most Canadians were frustrated with large stores/empty shelves and overpriced goods. They expected this store to replace the iconic Zellers store that had been a Canadian department store for decades but closed its doors unable to compete with Walmart. It's sad to see Canadian businesses falling to the wayside as American ones move in and take over. I wonder what's next? Canadian Tire is another iconic store but is still surviving despite the Walmarts/Targets and other US based stores.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/target-pulling-out-of-canada-after-failed-expansion-1.2189973

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

Madisson — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:39:46 GMT

Hard to believe that Target could not survive in Canada! I don't think that their prices are overpriced...although sometimes they are just a tiny bit higher than Walmart. On the other hand, the general ambience in Target is nicer than in Walmart.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

brii — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:43:24 GMT

That's surprising that Target couldn't make it in Canada.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

straykatz — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:48:09 GMT

Many of my friends and family were excited to hear Target was coming to Canada...they had shopped in them when visiting the US....however....the pricing structure in Canada was much higher than the US and from my friends perspective they felt like Target was not treating them fairly with higher price tags.....one of my cousins even said she felt Target must think they are fools who can't see the higher pricing compared to the US stores....interesting that Target opted to price higher because right now the Canadian dollar is higher than the US dollar so I would have though the prices would have been the same or lower.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

straykatz — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:51:58 GMT

I also think the closure of Zellers was still too fresh of a wound for most Canadian's.....so that added to the difficulty of Target making its mark in Canadian retail....too many people were expecting a Zellers type atmosphere/quality and Target didn't bring it.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

WenGirl42 — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:01:26 GMT

Maybe it costs them more to operate in Canada, so their pricing must be higher to maintain profits?

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

JuJu Squeezie — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:02:21 GMT

I worked at Target in ND and the Canadians were terrific customers. They came on holidays and shopped till they dropped.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

traveler — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:31:37 GMT

And yet we could find a Walmart in a lot of "remote" places like Whitehorse, Yukon.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

Lacey1 — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:39:53 GMT

That's kind of surprising but I'm not really crazy about Target either. There's a brand new one near me. I don't like the stark red & white décor, and it's nearly impossible to find your way to the exit. They have it set up like a maze to keep you shopping! I like the idea of going to grocery store for food, a clothing store for clothes, etc. When they try to sell everything, quality suffers.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

NoelSeven — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:24:45 GMT

Every time I've been to Canada, I noticed their prices were higher than ours for the same products.

I just can't see Target scalping people up there. I'd assume if pricing was a problem they would lower theirs, if only to stay in business. It will be interesting to see what comes of this.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

Shorty2U — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:27:50 GMT

Hmm Im surprised! I love Target! Its my favorite! And yes I still go in Kmart (gasp!) at times. (Love Jacqueline Smiths clothing). I hate Walmart and wont set one foot in that store.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

Clover29 — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:28:28 GMT

I like Target. I love their pajamas and their sandals are inexpensive. I wish the one near me had a bigger fresh grocery section though. I like more choice than one kind of apple, one kind of potato.

There's just no knowing what works in one country and not another. As an immigrant myself, I see lots of little differences between UK and US shopping availability.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

BeckiWV — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:31:55 GMT

The nearest Target for me is still 80 miles away so I haven't been to one often enough to judge how they are.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

shoptilyadropagain — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:39:53 GMT

My friends that live in Canada were fairly excited when stores opened near them. I actually was at one this summer....well, I didn't go in I waited in the car as there was a pretty good downpour going on and I'm not a huge fan of Target anyway.

I've been in a few of those Zeller's stores before and was totally unimpressed. Maybe years ago, they were a nice store but the couple that I was in were old, run down, smelly, dirty and the merchandise was pretty poor quality. They reminded me of a Hills Department Store that was near me right before it closed up.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

Lipstickdiva — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:52:57 GMT

Target isn't my favorite store. There is one across the street from where I work and I still rarely enter the store.

I find much of the clothing to be overpriced for the quality, although their Denizen jeans are my HG and the price is right.

Our store recently started to carry fresh produce and more grocery items and the prices are outrageous.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

Hooty — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 19:31:11 GMT

I am not a big fan of Target myself, only time I really go is when I am looking for things for Granddaughters or getting their gift cards, their mother loves Target!

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

madzonie — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 20:20:22 GMT

I always liked Target. They have a wide assortment of items, fair prices, and give some of their profits to community organizations and services. I don't shop there much these days, but sure hope they don't close in the US.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

straykatz — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 20:32:28 GMT

On 1/15/2015 Hooty said:
I am not a big fan of Target myself, only time I really go is when I am looking for things for Granddaughters or getting their gift cards, their mother loves Target!

Same here...I have a couple nieces that love Target so they get Target gift cards from me for birthdays/Christmas.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

muttmom — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 20:54:25 GMT

I never got the memo when Target became the in place to shop.

When we married in 1973, Target was nothing more than a low level store. It was when people called it Tar-jay' just to class it up. I recall people getting more excited about K-Mart and Walmart.

Re: Target a major fail in Canada - closing all its stores

croemer — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 20:57:59 GMT

I get frustrated with Target as far as their lack of restocking as well. Their grocery prices I find much higher then our local grocery store. I do enjoy other areas of their stores though.